marriage rocks

* This is a re-post from my Sunshine blog that is no longer active. It has received very positive feedback, so I thought I would publish it again on this site for those of you who may not have read it. *

Or is your marriage ON the rocks?! If you have been married for more than a few years, you have probably experienced both. Most of us enter through the door of marriage not fully aware of what is waiting for us on the other side. Contrary to what is splashed before us on the big screen, maintaining a healthy, loving relationship is a lot of work. No, let me rephrase that, it is a full-time job!

Although my husband and I love each other dearly, at times, it is difficult for us to live together. I know, I know! I can hear your gasps from this side of the computer. But it’s true. We are conditioned to believe that love conquers all! Unfortunately, this is NOT the case. It takes a whole lot more than love to keep a marriage afloat. In thinking about this topic, I have come up with a few anchors you may want to keep on deck to keep your marriage from drowning in the
everyday sea of stresses.

1. Put God first. This is the FIRST and most important lifeline. If God is not first in your life, you can expect troubled waters. Marriage is made up of two self-centered, imperfect human beings residing together under one roof. Without God in the center of your home, it simply is not going to work.

2. Put your spouse's needs before your own. This concept goes against our natural instinct as humans. As much as we would like to believe that we are selfless people, we aren’t! And that is okay. Each day when you wake up, pray that God will show you ways to put the needs of your partner before your own. I promise He will guide you.

3. Keep your mind and body emotionally healthy. Commit to spending some time to yourself every day. Find a hobby, read a book, journal, exercise. No matter your plan, when you take care of yourself, it makes it easier to care for others.

4. Read a book about the opposite sex. When we're in school, in order to learn the subject, the teacher expects us to read the material. Men and women are COMPLETELY different species. Wouldn't it make sense to read everything we can in an attempt to learn what makes them tick?

These are just a few. Remember that nothing worth having comes easy. No relationship
will ever be perfect. But if you wake up daily and grab hold of the anchors provided, you will, at the very least, stay afloat!